Chapter 71

〈Chapter 70〉 Section 3. Transformation isn't just for Riders! (6)

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Pong.

Although it might sound sudden, when people hear this word, they think of all sorts of things.

­Pong? What is it? Are you talking about the sound of a fart?

Some might think of the sound 'pong'.

Perhaps they found a popular drama interesting, or they might recall a character's name that sounds similar.

­When you say pong, isn't it about a certain something? Did someone manipulate it?

Some might think of the padding put in the chest.

They might think of a girlfriend wearing 'pong', or with eyes blazing, try to find the manipulator in the thought, "Which character manipulated it?"

­No matter what, pong is about national pride!

Some might think of the foundation of this light novel, national pride.

They would feel pride and dignity in the fact that world-class, globally renowned entities are Korean.

­Pong? You've become stronger. Charge!

Some might think of a buff.

While it's unclear whether 'pong' is a kind of neural enhancer or stimulant, generally speaking, when someone says they received 'pong', it means their physical or mental abilities have improved.

This word 'pong' is used in so many different contexts.

Thus, when people hear the word 'pong', they think of different things, making it difficult to interpret the meaning of 'pong' with just one word.

Context is needed.

I've experienced national pride in this world and experienced various things, but there's one 'pong' that I didn't touch before my possession and still don't touch now.

Is pong strange?

Stop talking about pong all the time?

What if we called it something else?

'Drugs'.

A psychotropic substance called methamphetamine.

It's used as a medicine, but of course, most people who want to use it do so for the pleasure it provides.

I'm talking about a drug that is a type of 'pong'.

But it's not just for ordinary people; it's a substance for 'superhumans'.

Then, the question.

Is it a commonly used drug?

No.

To ordinary people, it's just ordinary white powder, but when a superhuman inhales it, it shows effects far more powerful than any drug.

Its official name is 'Mana Powder'.

It's a substance that enhances superhuman abilities, amplifies magical power, and boosts mana output, and it's strictly prohibited by the guild. When ingested, it causes addiction like regular drugs, making it impossible to lead a normal life, and most people who touch this substance end up becoming 'villains'.

Why does such a thing exist in this world?

At first, no one knew.

According to the setting and my investigations, Mana Powder began circulating in the market around 2015 in this world.

­Korea is a drug-free country!

Despite this claim, news of who and who had taken drugs often surfaced on TV and the internet.

­Breaking news! A-class hero 'Erectile' is causing a disturbance due to addiction to a superhuman-targeted drug! Citizens of Cheongju, evacuate immediately...

An incident occurred.

A terrible event unfolded, and the world tried to ban Mana Powder.

Some argued that since it enhances superhuman abilities, it should just be used.

However, the moment the method to create Mana Powder was spread by some conscientious individual, the world plunged into a pit of fear and hatred.

­Mana Powder is made using the bodies of dead superhumans!

­It's bone powder! What else could come out of a dead person's body as white powder?

­And in such a large quantity!

Ah.

They say that when a Buddha dies, relics are formed.

When a superhuman dies, Mana Powder is formed.

Specifically, after a superhuman dies and is cremated, the remaining bones turn into powder.

This powder contains the mana that the superhuman had in their body before death, which remains in the bones and disperses into the world as the bones turn to powder.

Huh?

Mana remains in the ashes?

Then, can't I have that mana?

Someone did something terrible based on this thought, and ultimately, new knowledge about superhumans emerged.

The remains of the dead become the flesh, blood, and mana of other superhumans.

That's what Mana Powder is.

In other words.

The only drug allowed for superhumans is 'bone powder'—the powder made from the bones of dead superhumans.

After cremation, if the bones maintain their form, they are ground into a fine powder, finer than flour.

And Sejong Island is the place where the bodies of F-class or E-class superhumans, who are eliminated during the treasure hunt, can be quietly processed without anyone finding out.

If the 'high-ups' of Sejong Island decide to hide something, there's nothing they can't hide.

That's right.

The F-class or E-class superhumans who are eliminated during the treasure hunt process.

Mainly those without families or those with families but lacking influence, the low-level superhumans who can be manipulated without causing trouble.

­Becoming a superhuman is all a blessing? Unfortunately, F-class or E-class superhumans are of no help to the world. If, in case they die, shouldn't their bodies be used to benefit the country and the world?

Yes.

The protagonist called himself E-class.

He tried to hide his power and acted as a social underdog, almost being devoured by those who prey on the weak.

Due to the attack by the title heroine, 'Ermina Sternfert'.

In the middle of the night, I found a black bag in a public restroom, which contained an envelope.

It was presumed to contain bone powder.

Here's a dilemma.

Mana Powder is not yet illegal.

Despite the bizarre process of its creation, from a certain perspective, Mana Powder is a 'naturally occurring' substance.

It's just that the process of its creation is so sad, tragic, or shocking.

­Everyone dies.

­There's no order in which people die.

While it's difficult to provide specific statistics globally, death is equal and can come suddenly to anyone.

The same goes for superhumans.

If someone sacrifices their life to save others in a noble act, their ashes will be kept in a columbarium and used when a threat to human existence arises.

Because they were a hero.

But.

What if someone tries to create Mana Powder 'deliberately'?

Like forcibly extracting a demon's seed from a demon, what if they turn a superhuman into Mana Powder?

That person.

Will not be able to avoid the goblin's club.

* * *

After transforming into a goblin in the host's room and coming out since the morning, I headed to the location where the treasure hunt would take place, avoiding people's eyes.

Specifically, to the rooftop of a ten-story high-rise building overlooking the venue.

[Everyone gathered in the Grand Square. Welcome.]

Grand Square.

A stage was set up in the center of a vast square, comparable in size to Gwanghwamun Square, and an elderly man with white hair, dressed in a suit, held a microphone.

Behind him, a giant screen displayed his face, shimmering.

[The Academy always strives to enhance everyone's superhuman abilities. As many of you know, this time it's a treasure hunt.]

The Grand Square was already filled with a large number of people, most of whom were Academy students, except for the spectators at a certain distance.

[From now on, you will form pairs of two and find treasures in the designated areas. Information about your partner will be transmitted through the Taeguk Watch, and the treasure hunt will begin immediately upon transmission. Hehe, be careful? There are quite a few deaths and disappearances every year.]

Although he's speaking jokingly, it doesn't sound like a joke to me.

[...The first place in each area will receive a 'special reward'. Everyone knows, right? Just like last year, the principal has prepared special rewards for this year. A midterm exam pass, prize money, and five absence slips. This year, we've issued absence slips so you can use them whenever you want.]

He seems to be thinking about and offering convenience for the students every year, but how true is that?

[...And this year, the Student Council has prepared an event. The Student Council President, Yoon Eui-seon, will announce it.]

[Thank you, Principal. Hello, fellow students? The Student Council, for your safe treasure hunt, will talk about... 'goblins'.]

Yoon Eui-seon explained the 'goblin hunt' as if they had taken the initiative to organize it, without showing any signs.

I can hear the noise.

Everyone is excited about the goblin hunt, their shoulders bouncing, and they're all talking about how they will find the treasure and get good results, and what they will do with the reward money if they find a goblin.

[Then, I will now reveal your partners! Everyone, check your Taeguk Watches!]

As the principal shouted, I kept a close eye on the shimmering blonde hair far away.

Ermina.

The direction she walked confidently was—

Yumir.

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